12v battery question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Docdkay, Aug 29, 2021.

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  1. priumium

    priumium Member

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    CCA value is irrelevant for a Prius. It may be painted as fake news, but just learn it (chemistry) if in doubt.

    Unfortunately other measurable units are not advertised or easy to know. The long term and low temperature (in my case) endurance is so much more relevant.

    Yuasa model is the absolute best value/endurance time value in my experience with so many dead trunk batteries at winter times…

    Up north we know battery capacity drops tremendously when there are subzero temps. If used low they will empty their entire charge.

    Please note a frozen battery is not wasted, it likely froze due to lack of charge (pH is to high). But any battery that has dropped to below even be able to start the Prius ECU should never be considered healthy nd only used as backup.

    Any artery or battery will be able to deliver 300A directly after charging. It’s not viability in my mind.
     
    #41 priumium, Nov 29, 2025 at 11:50 AM
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2025 at 12:04 PM
  2. priumium

    priumium Member

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    So, this will not be heated? :)
     
  3. indel

    indel Junior Member

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    I have one of these in my Prius which is 12 years old now. I am going to change it out soon.
     
  4. priumium

    priumium Member

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    That’s a testament to quality indeed.

    Since the dimensions and pole dimensions and positions (!) are rare, I have tried em all. Any battery claiming high CCA is by my definition easily emptied.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Agree, higher CCA seems to come at the expense of lower amp hours, it's a trade-off, on or the other.
     
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  6. priumium

    priumium Member

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    Indeed. It’s two different focus areas design-wise. Either you deliver a lot now and store less, or you deliver less and hence store more. It’s not just fluff, the design of plates and electrolyte flow is very different.

    I have not tried lithium as an aux at all, partly due to lack of trust in cold climate sustainability. Might be idiocy, but price is also highly relevant…

    My experience: avoid Bosch, Excide and Yellow Top, if you live with subzero nights.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    I've got an Optima Yellow Top, and in hindsight, see the high CCA came at expense of lowish Amp Hours (38?). That said, and considering our very sporadic driving, I just keep it on a smart charger, 'round the clock. Over 10 years now.
     
  8. priumium

    priumium Member

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    That is indeed my experience aswell. Actually, this YTop has been the most wanted money for me, I can buy three Excide ås for the same price. I have lagats used a ctek 5A charger attachment on my Priuses, but with the YT it seemed to make it worse at keeping charge (since I think it was not at all designed for subzero climates).

    We can have a full month with -10° at night. Yuasa YBX3057 is my absolute empirical favorite. It has lame CCA.
     
    #48 priumium, Nov 30, 2025 at 9:51 AM
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2025 at 10:08 AM
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  9. priumium

    priumium Member

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    This is knowledgeable information indeed. However, in my battery hardened mind, the concept of ”battery testers” is idiosyncratic. It’s an unknown and this kind of tool is a waste of money; Unless anyone is in a hurry to determine the batteries ability to crank the engine, as shops are by definition.

    Any quality charger will indirectly show you more relevant information during the cycle. Ie charge time to full mainly, and drops in V over time (not ctek as it lacks any displays)

    CTEK defines these in the manual. It actually checks how much the V drops/unit before deciding to ”recond” it. I also have some osram 20eu 4A chargers that show V.
     
    #49 priumium, Nov 30, 2025 at 10:04 AM
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2025 at 10:11 AM
  10. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Active Member

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    My second-last car, a MINI (BMW) "required" coding when a non-BMW battery was installed, for optimum life. I just went with the $300 BMW battery. Doesn't sound like the Prius requires that, but perhaps it is optimized (charging profile, or whatever) for the stock battery.